Cotton humidifier



Oct. 29, 1935. c. s. HERRING COTTON HUMIDIFIER Filed Deo. 2l, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 l I 1% lnvento'r l/kv NN Mw Wnww w .am :am .www u/ -INHHHIIIIINIIIIHH u @NEU /l JWA `,-,w--lli1 HWF; l lllllllll l Attorney oct. 29, 1935. c, s. HERRING 2,019,079

COTTON HUMIDIFIER Filed DGO, 2l, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 'nvento'r Attorney Oct. 29, 1935.1 c. s. HERRING 2,019,079

COTTON HUMIDIFIER Attorney l Patented Oct. 29, 1935 l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COTTON HUMIDIFIER Clyde' S. Herring, Robstown, Tex.

Application December 21, 1934, Serial No. 758,671

4 Claims. (Cl. 19-66) This invention relates to a. device for applying moisture to cotton before the cotton enters the gin stand, an object of the invention being to provide an apparatus for humidifying the cotton by 5 the action of steam, the invention comprehending the subjecting the cotton while in the feeder extractor or feeder cleaner to the action of steam before entering the gin stand for the purpose of putting moisture or humidity in the cotton ahead l of the gin saws.

The present invention involves certain new and useful improvements over the humidifier involving the subject matter of my Patent No. 1,954,383, granted April 10, 1934 and entitled Cotton l humidifier.

'I'he present invention is especially concerned with the provision of a suitable source of steam supply, with improved means for subjecting the cotton to the action of steam; and for the provision of means wherebyv the steam may be so mixed with the cotton as to eliminate static conditions attendant in ginning dry cotton, especially in dry climates.

Further, in accordance with the present invention, the humidifier may be attached to and used in connection with a boiler or with a coil as found desirable and without regard to the particular type of gin machinery or motor power employed.

The invention together with its objects and advantages will be best understood from a study of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view illustrating somewhat diagrammatically a gin mill or plant, and the application of my invention thereto.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view with certain parts shown in section to more fully disclose the invention.

Figure 3 is a somewhat diagrammatic view showing the pipe connections leading to the boiler and the coil and to the nozzle carrying parts, parts in this figure being shown in section and elevation.

As wi11 be understood, my improved humidifying means may be used regardless of the type of gin machinery or motor power employed therefor, and to this end I have shown the invention as applied to a somewhat conventional type of gin machinery wherein is 4employed a separator 2 having the usual feed pipe I connected therewith; cleaners 3, 5 and associated parts (4, 6, I, 8, 9 and I0 with which this invention is not particularly concerned) distributor trough I I in which operates an endless distributor apron I2 lmore detailed description thereof is deemed 5 unnecessary.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a distributor or manifold pipe 20 that, for each feeder I4 is provided with a pair of nozzles 23 that extend into the feeder I4 at oppoll0 site sides of the latter as shown in Figure l. Connected with one end of this pipe through the medium of a three-way valve 25 is a steam feed pipe II and a steam exhaust pipe I'Ia. The pipe i'I is also suitably connected with a member I6 l5 that leads from a suitable steam boiler, a portion of which is shown in Figure 3 and indicated by the reference character B. Also, connected with the pipe 20 through the medium of a suitable union I8a is a pipe I8 that has an upper portion 20 that extends above and lengthwise of an end portion of the trough I I. As shown in Figure l, the pipe I 8 has its upper horizontal portion terminating in an extension or section I8b that is provided with a jet or nozzle 22 that extends into 25 the cleaner 3 as suggested in Figures 1 and 2. Branching laterally from the horizontal portion of the pipe I8 and extending transversely of the trough II is a distributor or manifold pipe section to which are connected a series of suitable 30 nozzles 2| that terminate within the trough II. Arranged within the horizontal portion of the pipe' I8 is a valve 21 disposed between the nozzles 2l and the extension |817 of the pipe, while in the vertical portion of the pipe I8 there is a valve 26 35 as shown in Figures 1 and 3.

From the above then it will be apparent that with valve 25 turned so as to connect the pipe I'I with the pipe 20 and valve 26 closed, steam from the boiler will pass through the pipe I6, the pipe I1 and the pipe 20 to discharge into the cleaners I 4 through the nozzles 23 and onto the cotton for humidifying the cotton prior to the passage of the cotton into the gin stand. 45

Also, and when found desirable to prevent, eliminate or reduce static condition attendant in ginning dry cotton, valves 26 and 21 are open so that steam will also pass through the pipe I8 to discharge through the nozzles 2I into the 50 cotton within the trough II, some of the steam passing through the pipe section I8b to discharge into the cleaner 3 also. Thus, the cotton before reaching the feeders I4 may be moistened with steam thus effecting the purpose just mentioned. 55

Where desired, or if necessary, instead of using the boiler B for supplying steam there may be used a steam coil 3l arranged in a suitable casing 28 as shown in Figure 3. The casing 28 is mounted on a suitable stand or base 29 and the burner for the coil which maybe a gas burner, is fed from a suitable source of supply through the medium of pipe 36 equipped with a valve 35. For the casing 28 there is provided a suitable gas vent 3l.

The coil 3| which is preferably in the nature of a double coil has its inlet end connected through the medium of a pipe 32 with a water supply pipe 33 leading from any suitable source of supply. The connection between the pipes 32 and 33 is in the form of a valve 30 while a valve 35 may be also placed in the pipe 32'. The outlet end of the coil 3l is connected? througlrlth'e medium of a pipe 34 with the pipe Il and arrangedY in the pipe 34 is a valve 38 while a valve 3'9 is arranged in the pipe H- above the connection between the pipe IT andthe pipe 34 as shown in Figure 3.

From the above it will beapparent that when the supply of steam from the boiler B is cut 01T, Valves 30 and 35 may be opened so that water will iiow from the pipe 33 through the coil 3| to provide steam which is conveyed through the pipe 34 andthe pipe H to the pipe 20 for moistening the cotton in the feeders I4, and in a manner thought to be apparent and previously set out, steam may be supplied under these present conditions, through the pipe I8v and associated parts to the cleaner 3 and trough Il to reduce or eliminate undesirable static conditions.

Having thus described the: invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a ginning mechanism including cleaners, conveyor trough, feeder and gin stand, a steam pipe having nozzles projecting therefrom and terminating inwardly of the feeder and a source of steam supply connected with said pipe for feeding steam through the pipe andthe nozzles into the feeders for moistening the cotton therein prior to the passage of the cotton intofthe gin stand, a second steam pipe branching from the first named steam pipe and having nozzles connected therewith for directing steam into the conveyor trough and an additional nozzle connected therewith for directing steam into the cleaner, said second steam pipe and nozzles associated therewith servi-ng to supply steam to the cleaners and the conveyor trough for moistening cotton therein to eliminate static condition, and valve means for controlling-thev passage of steam from the iirst named steam pipe to the second named steam pipe.

2. In a ginning machinery including cleaners, conveyor trough means, feeders and gin stand, a

steam pipe having nozzles connected therewith 5 and extending into the feeders, a second steam pipe branching from the rst named steam pipe and having nozzles connected therewith extending into the trough, and an additional nozzle connected therewith and extending into the clean- 1o ers, a valve in the second steam pipe, a boiler, piping .leading from the boiler and connected Awith the first named steam pipe for supplying steam from the boiler to said iirst named steam pipe, andl valve means connecting said piping l5 with said rst, named steam pipe.

3. In a ginning machinery including cleaners, conveyor troughmeans, feeders and gin stand, a steam pipe having nozzles connected therewith and' extending into the feeders, a second steam 20 pipei branching from the first named steam pipe and havingY nozzles connected therewith extending into the trough, and an additional nozzle connected therewith and extendingiinto the cleaners', as, valveinl the second steam pipe', a steam 25 coil, a source of water supply, val-ve equipped piping connecting said source of water supply withthe inlet end of said coil, additional piping connecting said coil at the outlet end thereof with the first named steam pipe, and valve means 30 between said last named piping and said first named steam pipe for controlling the supply of steam` to the latter.

4.. In a Aginning machinery including cleaners, conveyor trough means, feeders and gin stand, a. 35 steam pipe having nozzles connected therewith andextendingl into the feeders, a second steam pipe branching from the rst named steam pipe and having nozzles connectedv therewith extending into the trough, and anV additional nozzle 40` connected therewith and extending into the cleaners, a valve in the second steam pipe, a boiler, piping leading from the boiler and connected with the rstr named steam pipeV for supplying steam from the boiler to said iirst named 451 steam pipe, and Valve means connecting said piping with said` rst namedY steam pipe, a steam coil, means for connecting a source of water supply with said steam coil, and additional piping connecting said steam coil with'v the rst named 50" 

